Cut-out action toy



Sept. 25, 1962 Filed Dec. 21, 1959 F. PALM 3,055,142

CUT-OUT ACTION TOY 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 fi x i 2 mqfim/a W W 5 az zfw Sept. 25, 1962 F. PALM CUT-OUT ACTION TOY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed D50. 21, 1959 BY W 5 P 1962 F. PALM 3,055,142

CUT-OUT ACTION TOY Filed Dec. 21, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INV EN TOR.

- Fag/ix Palm W, W Z g Sept. 25, 1962 F. PALM CUT-OUT ACTION TOY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 21, 1959 3555,1412 CUT-(PUT AQTION TOY Felix Palm, 2241 W. Greenleaf Ave, Chicago, Ell. Filed Dec. 21, 1959, Ser. No. 861,699 12 Claims. (Cl. 46123) This invention relates in general to toys and more particularly to cut-out toys which may be formed from a flat blank and folded into a three-dimensional configuration to provide separate portions movable relative to each other to simulate desired physical actions.

A principal object of the invention is to facilitate manipulation of a toy which is formed and folded from a single sheet of material to represent an animal, human or caricature of a head, so as to efiect relative movement of jaw portions to simulate natural movements of the mouth. This object is attained by providing a scored diamond, or score or fold lines outlining a diamond shape, on a planar sheet, and additional fold lines extending laterally outwardly from each side vertex thereof and a vertical fold line across the diamond between its other vertices, and severing or cutting through the material across the diamond between the side vertices. Then by folding the sheet on the vertical fold line by swinging its sides rearwardly, upper and lower jaw portions will be defined, separated by the lateral or horizontal fold lines and the cut across the diamond to present a three-dimensional figure. Relative vertical movements of the jaw portions may be effected by virtue of this transverse out which permits clearance between the upper and lower portions of the jaws within the diamond.

Another object of the invention is to enable the designer to select a mouth movement characteristic of the animal or person being depicted. This is accomplished by positioning the central point of the transverse cut, which may be angular or curved, either above or below the center of the diamond. If the central point of the transverse cut is above the center of the diamond, that portion of the lower jaw within the diamond will be disposed rearwardly of that portion within the diamond of the upper jaw. Conversely, placement of the central point of the transverse out below the center of the diamond will result in the part of the upper jaw Within the diamond being disposed rearwardly of the inward part of the lower jaw when the sheet is folded into operating position.

Another important object of the invention is to facilitate manual operation of such a toy to simulate natural jaw movements. This object is attained by providing pull tabs extending upwardly and downwardly, respectively, from the upper and lower jaw portions when in the blank or ori inal planar form, with a horizontal fold or score line at the base of the upper jaw portion to permit the same to be folded rearwardly through approximately 180 degrees. Thus, when the toy is folded into operating position, the operator readily may grasp the originally upper and lower pull tabs and move the same vertically relative to each other to effect the desired jaw movements.

A further object is to enable the designer to attain a wide variety of effects by use of extensions of suitable shapes which will have relative movements in different directions in response to the previously described relative vertical movements of the pull tabs. This may be accomplished by providing lateral extensions disposed outwardly of either or both of the upper and lower jaw portions when the sheet of material is flat and connected to the outer ends of the jaw portions by score or fold lines. If forming a part of the upper jaw portions with their upper ends above the horizontal fold line, those upper ends of such extensions will move toward each other as the jaw portions converge in response to manipulation of thepull tabs with the toy in operating position.

If such extensions are on the lower jaw portions with their outer ends above the horizontal fold line, their outer ends will move downwardly and away from each other as the jaw portions converge. Such extensions may be shaped and placed to depict ears, hair, horns, or portions of clothing, or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide for eyes which move in such a three-dimensional toy made from a flat blank by forming two such upper pull tabs with inwardly directed eye extensions, when the blank is in planar position, that may extend outwardly through slots suitably disposed in the upper jaw portions rearwardly of the diamond, when the toy is folded into operating position, to move in and out in response to move ments of the pull tabs.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a cut-out blank for an action toy embodying the features of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a similar plan view of a modified form of blank;

MG. 3 is a front elevational View of a three-dimensional toy folded from the blank of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the movable parts of the toy in different positions;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation similar to FIG. 3 showing a three-dimensional toy formed from the blank of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of the modification of FIG. 6 with the movable parts in different positions resulting from relative vertical separating movements of the jaw portions;

PEG. 8 is a longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 88 of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are side elevational views as seen, respectively, from the right sides of FIGS. 3 and 4; and

FIGS. 11 and 12 are similar side elevations as seen from the right sides of FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, reference numeral 13 indicates in general a fiat blank or single sheet, preferably of relatively thin bendable material, comprised principally of upper and lower jaw portions respectively designated generally by reference numerals 14 and 15. These jaw portions 14 and 15 are separatingly defined by a scored diamond or diamond-shaped outline l6, scored or fold lines 17 extending outwardly from the lateral vertices thereof, and a transverse slit or line of severance 18 extending between said lateral vertices. The jaw portions preferably are divided centrally by a vertical fold line 19 which may be scored in the material in wellknown manner and extends vertically across the diamond 16. It will be appreciated that my invention contemplates the provision of such a blank which is either cut out in outline and severed on the transverse line 18, or merely has the line of severance 18 and the outline of the blank printed or otherwise inscribed for subsequent cutting. With the latter arrangement, the same may readily be printed on food cartons, or the like, for cutting and folding into action toys. In either event, it also will be understood that the several fold lines, including those defining the diamond 16, the interrupted horizontal line '17 and the vertical line 19, or any of them, may be printed or otherwise inscribed on the blank, or may be scored therein to facilitate folding of the blank into its three-dimensional form.

The above-described elements comprise the principal features of my invention and alone are sufficient to enable folding of the blank 13 into its three-dimensional form, but it is preferred that upper and lower pull tabs 21 and 22 be appended, respectively, to the upper and lower edges of the upper and lower jaw portions 14 and 15 and sepa rated therefrom by suitable scored or inscribed fold lines. As shown in FIG. 1, there are two upper tabs 21 and two lower tabs 22 disposed, respectively, at the lateral ends of the jaw portions 14 and 15. Their use in manipualting the three-dimensional form of the toy will be described in detail later.

The modified blank illustrated in FIG. 2 and designated generally by reference numeral 23 dilfers little from the blank 13 of FIG. 1. Like the latter, it comprises upper and lower jaw members 14 and 15 defined by a diamond 16 and interrupted transverse or horizontal fold lines 17, with a vertical fold line 19 and upper and lower pull tabs 21 and 22. It also is provided with an inscribed transverse line of severance or slit 24 extending across the diamond 16 between the horizontal fold lines 17 and generally like the slit 18 of blank 13. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, these transverse lines 18 and 24 each comprise two halves or segments angularly disposed relative to each other. Unlike the line 18 which has its: central portion or intersection of its segments disposed above the center of the diamond 16, however, the central portion of the slit 24 is disposed below the center of the diamond-shaped outline 16.

These difierent dispositions of the transverse slits 18 and 24 will result in the forward ends of the jaw portions 14 and 15 being disposed differently relative to each other when the blanks are folded into their three-dimensional form, as will be described in detail hereinafter. It should be explained here, however, that such transverse slits may be curved instead of being made of angularly disposed segments, and that when of the latter form, they may comprise more than two segments, curved or straight line, but some portion intermediate their lateral ends should be disposed either above or below the center of the diamond.

Although the above-described portions of the blanks 13 and 23 embody the basic features of my invention, 'it is preferred that additional features be added thereto for effecting more realistic simulation of the figure, or the like, represented. For example, each of the blanks 13 and 23 may be provided with eye extensions 25 formed as a part of the upper pull tabs 21 and separated therefrom by inscribed or scored fold lines 26. These eye extensions 25 are adapted to be inserted through vertically disposed slits 27 respectively disposed at opposite sides of the diamond 16 in the upper jaw portion 14.

The blank 13 of FIG. 1 further preferably is provided with extensions 28 at the lateral ends of the upper jaw portion 14 which are separated from that jaw portion by suitable folded lines 29. These extensions 28 may be given any desired configuration, and are shown as repre senting horns in the modification of FIG. 1. Similar lateral extensions 31 may be provided at the ends of the lower jaw portion 15 and separated therefrom by suitable fold lines 32. Only one such pair of lateral extensions is provided in the modified form illustrated in FIG. 2. These are designated by reference numeral 33, and shaped and inscribed to represent rabbit ears, and are separated from the upper jaw portion 14 of the blank 23 by suitable fold lines *34. Numerous other modifications of such blanks may be made as desired to eifect simulation of different features of the animal, or article represented. As one example, reference is had to the tabs 35 that are cut from the lower jaw portion 15 of the blank 13 and attached thereto or maintained as a part thereof by fold lines 36.

As previously noted, it is contemplated that such embodiments of my invention may be formed either as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 generally, or the various outlines and lines of severance thereon illustrated may be printed or otherwise inscribed upon a larger blank, such as the panel of a food container. In the latter form, the blank may be cut and severed by the ultimate user. The blank then may be folded on the interrupted horizontal line 17 and the upper pull tab 21 also folded rearwardly from the plane of the blanks shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, so that those upper pull tabs extend downward vertically and the upper and lower edges of the upper and lower jaw portions 14 and 15 have been brought closer to each other rearwardly of the planes of those figures. The outer portions of the two jaw members then are folded rearwardly toward each other on the central vertical fold line 19, which will bring the two lower pull tabs 22 into laterally superposed and contacting relationship, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, for example. Since the upper pull tabs 21 previously had been folded downwardly int-o vertical position, such rearward folding of the outer portions of the jaws 14 and 15 similarly will result in those tabs 21 being brought into laterally superposed contact as illustrated in FIGS. 9-12. While this folding is being effected, the eye extensions 25 may have their free ends inserted outwardly through the associated slits 27, the extensions 25 being folded forward ly and outwardly from the planes of their respective pull tabs 21.

At the same time, the lateral extensions 28, 31 and/or 33 may be folded forwardly on their respective fold lines relative to the jaw portions from which they extend so as to assume their positions of FIGS. 3 and 9 or 6 and 11.

If the operator now grips the two sets of pull tabs 21 and 22 and asserts a vertically separating force thereon, the upper and lower jaw portions 14 and 15 will be moved from their positions of FIGS. 3 and 6 to those of FIGS. 4 and 7. As seen from the side of the toy, such relative vertical separation of the pull tabs 21 and 22 moves the jaw members from their positions of FIGS. 9 and 11 to those respectively illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 12.

Because the transverse slit or line of severance 18 of the modification of FIG. 1 has its central portion disposed above the center of the diamond 16, the forward part of the upper jaw portion 14 will be disposed forwardly of the forward part of the lower jaw portion 15, as best illustrated in FIG. 5. The relationship between the forward parts of the upper and lower jaw portions 14' and 15 of the modification shown basically in FIG. 2, wherein the slit or transverse line of severance 24 has a central port-ion disposed below the center of the diamond 16, is best illustrated in FIG. 8. In that figure, it can be seen that the lower jaw portion in elfeot is disposed forwardly or outwardly of the upper jaw portion. Consequently, different effects thus may be attained by so differently arranging such transverse slits as 18 or 24 with respect to the center of the diamond 16 to best simulate the particular month movements which it is desired that manipulation of the toy will produce.

Such relative vertical movement of the jaw portions 14 and 15 also quite obviously will result in their lateral parts moving toward and away from each other, as between the posi-tions illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Since the opera-tor is maintaining the pull tabs 21 in contact with each other, this will result in relative movement between the upper jaw portion 14 and the eye extensions 25 to obtain the results apparent from these figures. And it should be noted that the tabs 35 in this modificat-ion have been struck forwardly about their fold lines, so that they also move relative to each other during such manipulation of the toy.

Comparing the positions of the upper lateral extensions 28 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be noted that relative operation of the pull tabs 21 and 22 vertically from the position of FIG. 3 to that of FIG. 4 will cause the upper ends of the horns represented by those extensions 28 to be separated laterally. Conversely, the upper ends of the extensions 31 at the same time are moved laterally toward each other. Consequently, a highly animated effect may be attained by the mere relative vertical movements of the pull tabs -21 and 22. This is extremely efiective, as will be readily appreciated from a comparison between the illustrations of FIGS. 6 and 7. By bending the ear extensions 33 backward and forward on their fold lines 34 during the forming of the three-dimensional figure, the relative vertical movements of the pull tabs to move the parts between their positions of FIGS. 6 and 7 also will accomplish a flopping movement of the ear extensions 33 very closely simulating the natural movements of a rabbits ears. As will be appreciated, the specific representations which may be imprinted on the blank 13 or 23 are unlimited, and one advantage of the invention is that printing need be effected only upon one surface of the blank.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the forms and methods hereinbefore described being merely preferred embodiments thereof.

I claim:

1. A three-dimensional action toy cut from a single sheet of relatively thin material, comprising a single sheet of relatively thin material, opposed upper and lower jaw portions formed from said material and defined by a diamond-shaped outline, and fold lines extending outwardly from the lateral vertices thereof and vertically across said diamond between its other vertices, said material being severed across said diamond between said lateral vertices.

2. In a toy according to claim 1, pull tabs extending upwardly and downwardly, respectively, from said upper and lower jaw portions.

3. In a toy according to claim 2, extensions disposed at the lateral ends of at least one of said jaw portions and separated therefirom by fold lines.

4. A toy according to claim 2, wherein said pull tabs include two upper tabs extending upwardly from the lateral ends of said upper jaw portion, with their lower ends defined by fold lines, and each including a lateral extension.

5. A toy according to claim 4, wherein said lateral extensions are disposed on the inner sides of said pull tabs and said upper jaw portion is provided with a slot disposed outwardly of each side of said diamond to receive a said extension when said upper tabs are folded down upon said fold lines and said jaw portions are folded toward each other on said vertically disposed fold line.

6. An action toy formable from a single sheet of bendable material, comprising a single sheet of bendable material, upper and lower jaw portions formable therefrom and joining each other along a horizontal told line, said jaw portions being divided centrally by a vertical fold line, and angularly disposed fold lines extending outwardly from the ends of said vertical line and together defining a diamond, said sheet being cut on a transverse line extending laterally between the ends of said diamond.

7. A toy according to claim 6, wherein said transverse line is curved.

8. A toy according to claim 6, wherein said transverse line comprises segments an-gularly disposed relative to each other.

9. A toy according to claim 6, wherein the central portion of said transverse line is disposed above the center of said diamond.

10. -A toy according to claim 6, wherein the center of said transverse line is disposed below the center of said diamond.

11. A three-dimensional action toy formed from a single sheet of thin flexible material comprising upper and lower jaw portions joined along a discontinuous horizontal fold line and each divided centrally by a vertical fold line, the ends of said jaw portions being movable into adjacent relationship about said vertical fold line, and a transverse slit joining the resulting forward ends of said discontinuous horizontal line to enable movement of said jaw portions toward and away from each other to simulate natural movements of a mouth.

12. In a toy according to claim 11, vertically extending pull tabs attached, respectively, to said upper and lower jaw portions to facilitate manipulation thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 502,896 Vine Aug. 8, 1893 546,264 Vine Sept. 10, 1895 2,096,130 Phillips -4-.. Oct. 19, 1937 2,680,935 Smart June 15, 1954 2,819,559 Daley Jan. 14, 1958 OTHER REFERENCES Fun With Paper Folding by Murray et a1., published 1928 (pages and 94 cited). 

